$450,000 farm forestry grant recipients revealed

Posted 02 May 2024

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Nearly 250 hectares of trees will be planted and the carbon outcomes researched as part of a new grant program supporting Tasmanian farmers.

Nearly 250 hectares of trees will be planted and the carbon outcomes researched as part of a new grant program supporting Tasmanian farmers.

Private Forests Tasmania is excited to announce the recipients of a $450,000 co-investment to support farmers on private land in Tasmania to plant and grow more commercial trees on their properties.

The Stems for CO2 Program - supported by the State Government's Renewables, Climate and Future Industries Tasmania - will directly support three Tasmanian farmers with upfront establishment costs to successfully integrate commercial trees into their agricultural enterprise.

PFT Chief Executive Officer Dr Elizabeth Pietrzykowski said the successful applicants were chosen due to their demonstrated ability to meet the assessment criteria and program objectives of:

• Carbon modelling conducted on successful grant recipient properties that identifies the expected carbon abatement of the plantings for their deemed length of rotation.
• Successful establishment of commercial tree plantings that are integrated into the agricultural landscape.
• Communicate the carbon benefits of commercial trees to farmers, producers and landowners.

PFT launched the grant on February 2, 2024 with applications closing in March.

An independent assessment panel comprising of individuals with experience in carbon, forestry and agriculture assessed the applications received, with their recommendation going to the PFT Board for final approval.

The three recipients who will establish about 249 hectares of commercial tree plantings are:

The Tasmanian Government committed $10 million for new actions that will maintain Tasmania’s net-zero emissions status into the future in 2023 and $600,000 was awarded to PFT to deliver this program.

"The marketplace is evolving rapidly with significant growth opportunities in carbon, natural capital and new timber products and services. A priority area for PFT is to demonstrate economic and environmental impact that planting the right tree in the right place can have for Tasmanian farmers,” Dr Pietrzykowski said.

“Forestry can be a solution for sectors, like agriculture, where the market is demanding carbon neutrality throughout the supply chain, including Tasmanian farmers.

“The Stems for CO2 program will allow us to gather some vital information and research to help us communicate the carbon outcomes and opportunities when commercial trees are integrated into whole-farm planning.

"PFT through its expanded interactive Tree Alliance Knowledge Hub and strategic integrated farm forestry program will actively work to engage and educate Tasmanian landowners about the carbon benefits of planting trees.”